Canalside quest boosts Rosemere Cancer Foundation

Euxton dad-of-two Stephen Beardwell, pictured fourth from left, took part in a bike ride for the Rosemere Cancer Foundation

Published:09:21Thursday 16 July 2015

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An Euxton man’s spin turned into a wheel of fortune for Rosemere Cancer Foundation.

Stephen Beardwell, 53, of Countess Way, persuaded five friends to join him on a 127.5 mile cycle along the length of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal that has so far raised £1,500 for the charity.

The group set off from the Liverpool end of the waterway at 5.30 am, arriving in Leeds four punctures and 17 hours and 55 minutes later – well within the 24-hour target members had set themselves.

Joining Stephen, a property services information systems officer for Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, were Sandra West, Martyn Climpson, John Fairhurst, Sean Bailey and Mark Oatley – a mix of work colleagues and old school friends.

They were supported at regular intervals en route by family and other friends.

Dad-of-two Stephen, who last year raised £1,320 for Rosemere when he ran the Wigan 10K and organised a raffle that had a top prize of a PNE matchday hospitality box, said: “About four months of training and planning went into the cride.

“We picked a time near to the longest day of the year to give us maximum daylight and made it a Friday to avoid the canal towpaths when they’re busiest at weekends.”

Stephen began supporting Rosemere about two years ago after wife Julie was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Her former work colleagues at Bolton Industrial Doors Ltd gave a donation to the group, and another company, Rydon Maintenance Ltd at which Martyn works, also donated cash, while Halfords in Blackburn, gave Stephen’s bike a pre-challenge service.

The team also has a Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/L2L24towpathchallenge2015.

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